Railway draft rigging



July 23,- 1940. y

o. K. KJoLsE'n-l RAILWAY .DRAFT RIGGINd Filed Ngv. 9. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ttrneg..

I Inventor' ole K. Kjolsech,

9 His kvk VS O. K. KJOLSETHA RAILWAY lDRAFT RIGGING July 23, 1940.

Fim; my. 9. 1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor-z ole K Kjolsebm b9 M 5 M His Attorney,

3 sheets-sheet :5

VOf K. KJOLSETH RAILWAY DRAFT RIGGING Fi1ed-Nov. 9.v 1937 July 23, 1940.

IwerTtOr':r Ole K. Ffjolseth,

by His Attorney 'Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE aAlLWAY mmm creeme Ole K. Kjolseth, Erie, Pa., assignol' to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 9, 1937, `Serial No. 173,626 16 Claims. (Cl. 213-4) My invention relates to railway draft riggings.

In railway vehicle draft riggings, the tendency isA to reduce mechanical clearances between the parts of the draft rigging, and the couplers are constructed to minimize slack between the engaging elements of couplers in order to eliminate as far as possible shocks, jerks, and noise which might be produced by 'slack in the engaging coupler and draft rigging parts. With the type of coupler where no slack action is permitted by the contours of the engaging elements of two couplers and no free slack is provided between the coupler shank on one vehicle and the coupler shank on the other vehicle, it is desirable to pro- 5 vide for relative vertical and lateral displacement face.

An object of myl invention is to provide an improved railway draft rigging and load transmitting connection to the supporting frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide any improved retractable railway draft rigging.

Further objects and advantages of my inven- -tion will/become apparent and my invention will be better understood from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings, and the features of novelty which characterize myinvention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of a unit of a locomotive and a fragmentary view of another unitof a locomotive embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side eleva-tion4 of an embodiment of my invention with the draft rigging in extended position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional' side elevation of the draft rigging shown in Fig. 2 in retracted position; Fig.

4 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of the draft rigging and locomotive frame shown in Fig. 2; Figf 5 is a sectional end view taken along lineS-S of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of another embodiment of my invention; Fig. 'l is a 'fragmentary sectional plan view of a draftrigging shownA in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a sectional end view taken along line 8 8 of Fig.

Referring tothe drawings, an electric locomotive is shown comprising two similar units, each having a frame including a superstructure. Il

which is supported by center bearings II and I2v on main truck frames I3 and Il, respectively. To facilitate traversing curves in the track, the outer ends I5 and I6 of the main truck frames I3 and I4 are supported by center .bearings I1 'and I8 on pivoted guiding trucks I9 and 20, respec tively. These guiding trucks are of the double axle type provided with wheels 2l mounted on axles 22 journaled in journal boxes 23 which support the guiding truck frames. The main truck bearing I1 is pivotally'supported by a laterally movable'guiding truck center 'bearing plate' 2| which is supported by a swing bolster 25 on sets of rockers 26 mounted on a guiding truck'transom 21 which extends between side frames of the truck I9. 'A split center pin 28 extends through an opening 29 in the end I5 of the main truck frame and through openings in the center bearing IFI and center plate 24 and an opening through the guiding truck bolster 21. The locomotive is propelled by electric motors 30a through driving whee1s 30 and axles 3I journaled in j`urnal boxes 32 on which the framesA of the main trucks are supported. Lateral restraint devices 33 are arranged on the inner ends of the main truck frames to control the lateraldisplacement and pivoting of the main trucks.

fIhe draft rigging on the forward end of' each unit ofthe locomotive is of the retractable type in order to provide for the encasing of the draft rigging in front of the first unit to provide a smooth outer surface at the forward endof the locomotive.' The arrangement of the draft rigging at the forward end of each unit is'shown in its extended position in Figs. 2 and 4, and in its retracted position in Fig. 3. The draft rigging comprises a coupler 34 of the tight-lock type which is constructed to eliminate free slack between engaged couplers, and is provided with a longitudinally extending shank 35 in which two openings 36 and -31 'are formed. This coupler shank 35 extends within a coupler pocket formed between upper and lower plates 38 and 3 3, re-` spectively, of the forward supporting frame and lower plate "39' by a laterally slidable resilient member comprisingY a bearing guide block 4l which extends withinan opening 4I formed in the lower side of the shank 35, and is secured by bolts 42 to the upper side of the shank 35. A set of compression springs 43 engages a spring seat 44 on the underside of the upper portion of the I5 of the main truck I3, and is supported on the shank 35 and a spring seat 45 on the upper side of the bearing block 40, thereby resiliently supporting the outer end of the coupler shank 35 for vertical displacements. The bearing block 48 is slidably mounted on vthe upper surface 48 of a laterally extending and longitudinally movable supporting track 41. The laterally extending track 41 is mounted onV a pair of longitudinally extending tracks 48 formed on the lower plate 39 of the `main truck frame. The longitudinally movable laterally extending track 41 is movedto its for-' the coupler 34, which engages the edge of' a top plate forming the uppersurface 48 of the laterally extending track, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the coupler shank 35 is supported by a ball and socket joint including a socket 52, which is secured within the opening 31 in the shank 35 by welding or some similar manner, and a ball 53,

which rotatably engages the inner surface of the.

-socket 52. T he ball 53 is provided with an axially and vertically extending cylindrical opening 54,-

and is pivotally secured to the end of the main truck supporting frame by a pivot pin 55 which extends through bearings 58 and 51 and openings formed in the upper and lower` main truck plates 38 and 39, respectively. -A retaining spring ring 58 is arranged in a groove 59 formed in the lower plate 39 adjacent the lower end of the bearing 51, and is provided with a tapered surface 88 arranged to engage a complementary tapered surface 8| on the lower end of the pivot pin 55for retaining'and supporting the pivot lpin in 'position. A groove 82 is formed in the upper end of the`pivot pin 55 and a bifurcated latching pin 83 having ngers 84 is arranged to engage rthe groove 82 and a groove 8 5 formed in bosses 88 on the upper plate 38 adjacent the top of the bearing 58 and latches the pivot pin 55 in position in the end i of the main truck `supporting frame. The latching pin 83 is biased into latched position by a compression spring 81 held under compression between a boss and spring seat 88 formed'on the latching pin 83, and a spring seat 89 secured by bolts 18 to projections 1| formed on the upper plate 38 of the end l5 of the main truck supporting frame. A handle 12 is formed onthe outer end of the latching pin 83 and is arranged to withdraw the fingers 84 from engagement with the grooves 82 yand 85 to permit removal of the pivotpin 55. 'The plvotwpin 55 Ls-farranged to'be disengaged from the ball bearing 53 and the supporting frame bearings 58 and 81, and is provided with a lifting loop 13`secured in the top of the pivot pin and engagedl by a hook 14 formed on the lower end of a threaded rod 15. The ro'd 15 .threadedly engages an opening 18 formed in a 84 formed in the ball'bearing 53. A set of radial grooves 85 communicates between the groove 84 and peripherally extending grooves 88 formed on the vouter periphery. of the ball 53. Lubricant i5 vides for the transmission of forces between the coupler 34 and the main truck frame I3 without free slack between the 'force transmitting elements of the draft rigging.

In order to provide for positive actuation to extend and retract the draft rigging to a plurality of predetermined positions, la longitudinally extendinig ange 81 is formed on the inner end of the coupler shank and a gear rack 88 is pivotally secured by a-pivot pin 89 to the flange 81 on the coupler shank. The gear rack extends longitudinally through an opening 99 formed in a wallv 9| extending between the upper plate 38. and lower plate 39 o1' the supporting frame end l5. The

lower side of the gear rack 88 is supported by a roller 92 rotatably secured by a pin 93 to walls 94 extending between the upper and lower plates 38 and 39, respectively. A spur gear 95 engages the gear rack 88 and is secured to a shaft 98 and rotatably supported thereby on the walls 94 of the supporting frame. The shaft 98 extends laterally through a boss 91 formed on the side of the main truck supportingv frame I5, and is provided with a set of reduction spur gears 98 and 99, mounted on the shaft 98 and an operating shaft Illll,- respectively. A square head is formed on the shaft |08 and is adapted to fit a socket wrench for rotating-the shaft and the set of spur gears to move the gear rack 88 and the coupler longitudinallyofthe main trucksupporting frame.

When the forward end of a unit of the locomotive is not'coupled to another unit of the locomotive or to a railway vehicle, the draft rigging is adapted to be retracted within the housing or pocket formed between the upper and lower plates 38 and 39 of the end I5'of the main truck supporting frame. In order to retract the draft rigging, it is first necessary to disengage the pivot pin from the' ball 53. In order to do this, the

latching pin 83 is pulled out by the handle 12, and

rto draw the gearrack 88: in a backwardadirection, until the opening 38 in the coupler shank 35 is in alignment with the openings through the bearings 58 and 51 in the main truck supporting frame. In this position, the gear rack 88 extendsA through an opening I8! in a wall |82 extending b etween the upper and lower plates 38 vand 39 of the main truck supporting frame, and the coupler 34 is entirely within the housing formed by the upper and lower supporting frame plates 38 and 39 respectively. 'Ihe hand-wheel'18 is then rov tated so'as to lower the pivot pin 55 through the bearings 58 and 51 in thel main truck supportingv frame and through the opening 38 in the coupler shank 35..` 'I'he latching -pin 83 is then returned to its latched position and biased to this position by thespring 81. In this manner, the pivot pin 55 is arranged to secure the coupler in a plurality .annessa of predetermined positions on the main truck supporting frame and retains it thereon in either its extended or retracted position.' In order to provide a smoother outer surface at the front of l the locomotive when the coupler is retracted, a closure plate |II3 is secured by screws |34 at the top thereof to the upper plate 33 of the main truck frame. A ange |33 is welded to the lowe'r edge of the closure plate |03 and engages a groove |33 formed between a pair of riveted plates |31 and |33 secured by bolts |33 to the front edge of the lower plate 39 of the main truck supporting trame. A buffer lliLsformed of a rubbery material, such as resilient rubber, is secured by screws to the outer end of the upper frame plate 33 above the closure plate |33.

'Ihe draft rigging on the rear end of each 'locomotive unit comprises a coupler ||2 of the tightlock type constructed to eliminate free slack be'- I tween engaged couplers and is provided with a longitudinally extending coupler shank ||3. As shown in Figs. 6, 'I and 8, this coupler shank extends between upper and lower plates |'|4 and4 Y III, respectively, of the rear end I3 of the main II truck supporting frame i4 and is supported un the lower plate ||5 by a laterally slidable resilient member comprising a bearing guide block III which extends within an opening formed in the lower side of the shank ||3 and issecured by 30 bolts ||1 to the upper side of the shank ||'3. 'I'his construction is similar to the bearing block supporting arrangement shown in Fig. 2v for the coupler on the forward end of the locomotive and provides for apredeterm'ined vertical displacement. A set of compression springs ||3 is arranged to resiliently support the outer end of the coupler shank |I3 on the bearing block IIB, and the bearing block .lil is slidably mounted on a laterally extending supporting track ||9 -which is welded to the lower plate |13 of the main truck supporting frame. The inner end oftie coupler shank ||3 is provided with a yokerl 3, formed as a housing within which is Aarranged a plurality ofresilient rubbery elements |2|, made el of resilient rubber or -some similar material.

Steel buffer plates |22 are arranged between adjacent sides of the resil'ent rubbery elements |2|.

A cover plate |23 is secured by bolts |24 to the i yoke |23 and an inwardly extending and longil tudinally extending ilange |23 is arranged on each side of the lower edge of` the longitudinally extending sides of the yoke |23, and supports the resilient elements |`2| and the plates |22 within the yoke |20. 'Ihe yoke |20 is arranged to support the inner end of the coupler shank ||3 on a ball and socket joint including a socket |23 arranged between thel resilient rubberyelements |2| at both ends of the yoke and secured inposition therebetween by the cover plate |23which ,extends above the outer edges of the socket |23,

-and the lower edges-of the socket rest upon the g inwardly extending longitudinal'ilanges |23. A- bali |21 rotatably engages the innerzsurface-of the socket |23 and is provided with an axially I extending vertical cylindrical opening |23, and is pivotally secured for lateral pivotal movement.,on the main truck supporting frame by a removable pivot pin |23.I The pivot pin extends through bearings |33 and |3| in the upper and lower main 'l0 truck frame plates m and in, respectively, and the lower side of the ball |21 rests uponithe upper -end of the bearing |3 and is supported thereby. .Al retaining spring ring |32 isV arranged in a groove |33 formed in a boss |34 on the lower plate Il M3 adjacent thelower end of thebearing |3| and v 'is provided witha tapered inner surface |33 arranged to engage a tapered surface |33 on the lower end of the pivot pin' |23 for retaining and supporting .the pivot pin in position. In order to properly lubricate the ball and socket joint, 5 a longitudinally extending e |,31 is formed through the pivot pin and communicates with a lubricant iitting |33 in the top of the pin |23 and a radially extending opening v|33 which communicates with an annular groove |43 formed in 10 the cylindrical opening |23 in the ball. Lubricant is supplied to the annular groove |43 r throughthe lubricant tting |33, and therebyV lubricates the cylindrical bearing surface |23 of the ball |21. It alsopasses through a radialA groove |4| to a peripherally vextending groove |42 formed in the ball and lubricates the spheri cal bearingsurface between the ball |21 and the vsocket. |26. This construction provides a load transmitting connection for transmitting forces between the end i3 of the main truck supporting frame I4 and the coupler ||2 through a universal ball and socket joint. and provides for vertical and lateral displacements of the coupler without free slackbetween the force transmitting elements of the draft rigging, and the resilient elements |2| between the ends of the yoke and the socket |23 provide ifor dampening of shocks which may bel transmitted through the coupler or the main truck frame.

While I have illustrated and described particular embodiments of my inventio modincationsv thereof will'occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it-to be understood', therefore, that my invention is not to be limited to the particular' arrangements disclosed, andI intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new-and desire to secure'by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A railway'draftrigging including a coupler having a shank. a supporting frame for said shank, a universal ball and socket. joint secured to said coupler shank, means including an upwardly extending pivot pin through said ball, bearing and secured to said supporting frame for transmitting forces between said coupler and said frame, and means for providing positive 4retracting and extending of said coupler relative to said supporting frame. l

2. A railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for said shank, a universal ball and socket joint secured to said coupler shank adjacent one. end thereof', means pivotallyfsupporting said ball lfor lateralv pivotal movement on said supporting frame, a supporting track mounted on said supporting frame, resilient means including a laterally. slidV able member extending into and secured to said coupler shank for supporting the other end of Y said'k coupler shank in vertically movable relation on said supporting track, andmeans for provid? ing positive retracting and extending of said coupler relative to said supporting frame.

3. A railway draft rigging including a coupler having a 'a supporting frame for said shank, a universal ball and socket joint securedA to said coupler shank, meansincluding a removable pivot pin through said ball bearing pivotally securing said ball bearing for lateral pivotalv movement on said supporting frame, means for retaining said pivot vpin in said supporting frame.

a laterallyextending supporting track mounted on said supporting frame, resilient means includg5 ing a laterally slidable member extending within and secured to said coupler shank provided with spring elements for supporting/the outer end -of said coupler shank in vertically movable relation on said supporting track,and means for providing positive retracting; and extending of said couy forces transmitted betweenr said ball andsocketl joint and said coupler shank, means for pivotally securing said ball .bearing for lateral pivotal movement on`said supporting frame andl means pivot pin to said supporting frame, means'for re.

includirg a member extending within said 'coupler shank and provided with resilient supporting elements for supporting the outer endof said coupler shank in vertically movable relation on said supporting frame. v

5. A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for.

said shank, and means including openings through said shank, 'a pin. arranged to engage any one of said openings for securing said coupler4 shank in position on said supporting frame, said pin being removable from one of said openings to permit extending or retracting of said coupler and replaceable in another of said openings for retaining said couplerl in another position, and means for retracting and extending said couple relative to said supporting frame.

fi 6. A retractable railway draft riggingincluding a coupler having a. shank, a supporting frame for .said shank, means including openings through said shank and a pivot pin arranged to engage any one of said openings for securing s'aid coupler shank in any one of l a plurality of positions on said supporting frame, means for latching said moving' said pivot pin from saidopenings to permit extending or retracting of said coupler, andv means for retracting and extending said coupler on said supporting frame. l

7. A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for said shank, means including a plurality of openings through said s'hank and a pivot 'pin arranged to engage any one of said openings for seeming said coupler shank in any one of a plurality of positions4 on said supporting frame, and means including gears mounted on 'said supporting `frame-and connected to-'said couplerv shank for retracting and extending said draft rigging on said supporting frame.

8.l A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for said shank, means including openings through' Isaid shank and a pivot pin arranged to engageA any one of said openings' for securing said coupler supporting frame.

shank in any one of a pl'urality of positions -on said supporting frame, means for removing said pivotpin from said openingsto permit extending .or retracting of said coupler, and means including a gear rack pivotally secured-to said shank vand a'n operating gear engaging said gear rack and mounted onjsaid supporting frame for retracting and extending .9. A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame,

-for said shank, means including a universaljoint f track on said supporting frame.

said draft rigging on saidA secured to *said coupler shank and. adapted to be secured to said supporting-frame for providing a universal connection therebetween, a long'itudi-l nally movable track arranged to support said coupler on said supporting frame, means 'pivot` ally secured to said shank for retracting and extending said lcoupler and said longitudinally movcoupler shank, means including a pivot pin through said joint for pivotally securing said vjoint for lateral pivotal movement on said supporting frame, means for latching said pivot pin to `said supporting frame, a longitudinally movable track arranged to support said coupler on said supporting frame, and means pivotally se.

cured to said shank for retracting and extending said coupler and said longitudinally movable 11. Alretractablerailway draft rigging includ- I ing a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for' saidshank, a universal ball and socket joint secured to said coupler shank, means including a pivot pin through said ball for pivotally securing said ball for lateral pivotal movement of said supporting frame, means for latching said pivot pin to said supporting frame, means for resiliently biasing said latching means into latched position, a laterally 'extending and longitudinally movable supporting track mounted on said I,sup-

' porting frame, and means for retracting and extending said coupler and longitudinally movable track onsaid supporting frame. Y

12.v A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame l for said shank, a longitudinally movable track mounted on saidsupporting frame' and arrangedv to support said coupler thereon, means for retracting and extending said coupler and longitudinally movable, track on said supporting frame,

means for securing said coupler in extended or 'retracted position on said supporting frame, and

means including `a ball and socket joint secured to said coupler shank and arranged to be secured to said supporting frame by said securing means forprovidlng a universal connection between said supporting frame' and said coupler in extended position.` f

Y, 13. A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank formed with a plurality of vertically extending openings therein,` a supporting frame for said shank, a universalball andsocket joint secured in one of said vertically extending coupler shank openings, said ball having a vertically extending opening therein, a

-longitudinally movable track mounted on said supporting frame and arranged to support said coupler thereon, means for retracting and ex, tending said coupler and longitudinally movable track onsaid 'supporting frame, means including a pivot pin arranged to engage one of said openings for securing said coupler. in extended or retracted position on said supporting frame, means for latching said pivotpin to said supporting frame, and means for removing said pivot pin' from said one of'said openings to permit ing or retracting of said coupler. f

14.r A railway draft rigging lincluding a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for said shank, said supporting frame having' an upper.

extendanda lower plate and an opening through which u aeoaafao said coupler is adapted to extend, a lmiversal ball and socket joint secured to said'coupler shank, means including a removable pivot pin through said ball for pivotally securing said ball for lateral pivotal movement on said supporting frame, means for latching said pivot pin to said supporting frame, a longitudinally extending track on said lower frame plate, a laterally extending and longitudinally movable supporting track mounted on said longitudinally extending track, and means including a laterally slidable resilient member for supporting the outer end of said coupler shank in vertically movable relation on said supporting track.

15. A retractable railway draft rigging including a coupler having a shank, a supporting frame for said shank having an upper and a lower plate and an opening through which said coupler is adapted to extend, a universal ball and socket joint secured to said coupler shank, means including a removable pivot pin through said ball bearing for pivotally securing said. ball bearing for lateral pivotal movement on said 'supporting frame, a, longitudinally extending track on said lower frame plate, a laterally extending and longitudinally movable supporting track mounted on said longitudinally extending track, means inlcluding a laterally slidable resilient member for supporting the outer end of said coupler shank in vertically movable relation on said supporting track, means on said coupler for moving said laterally extending track longitudinally from the front toward the rear of said longitudinally extending track, and means on said laterally slidable resilient supporting member for moving said laterally extending track longitudinally from the rear toward the front of said longitudinally extending track. A

16. A railway draft rigging including a coupier having a shank, a supporting frame for said shank, and means for providing positive retractmg and extending of said coupler longitudinally ,m

relative to said 'supporting frame. y

' A OLE K KJOLSE'I'H. 

